Dressage & Other Schooling

Tokaj and I went to the indoor arena nearby today. She did really well. I am very rusty and can tell that much of the time... more than 75%... I am in her way. The other 25% of the time she is just going great. We worked on me sitting straight. I am the Queen of Crooked as usual, and stirrup leathers that are not the same length sure do not help matters. How can I have done as much as I have with horses and still be riding in stirrups of two different lengths?? I am disappointed in my Stubben leathers though. They have really done some stretching. They were uneven by TWO holes from the mounting side and the off side. Thank goodness for arenas equipped with mirrors. Sigh.

Today I was not going to focus on big tasks as much as getting Tokaj and I more used to one another before we head off to our first dressage lesson with Karin Glynn next Wednesday. Karin is from Norway, trained for dressage in Germany, and has trained to Grand Prix... which is far more knowledge than I am going to need at the moment, but it is nice to know that no matter what level I reach, she can definitely help. Karin trains out of Stonewall Farm in Kearney which is about eight to ten miles from me. I went to look at the facility and am sure impressed. The indoor arena is very large, and has footing made of synthetics and rubber. Very nice on horse's joints and feet. I am going to have Karin help me develop a better partnership with Tokaj. We have many specific areas that need improvement, but I am not sure where to best start. Some of the areas might be fixed with improvement in others so that is going to be where I need Karin's help.

I did work on some basics today that are not so much dressage oriented as western inspired. Tokaj is learning to stop like a Quarter horse rather than having the rider drag her to a disorganize halt with the reins. I know that dressage riders often do not teach "Whoa" to mean stop right now... but I like emergency brakes and think they should be installed in the first few rides on a colt. I also like manuverability for riding outside of the arena. Tokaj is learning to be more manuverable, backward, and sideways. She learned how to assist the rider when opening a gate from her back today. I have never had a horse that I could not do basic trail riding manuvers on, and won't be starting now. Tokaj is very very smart and quick. Her thinking process is like this: 1.) Do I have to? 2.) Try a couple evasions to make sure I have to. 3.) Learn quickly and do it right so we can do less work. I can't say I dislike her thinking and she got the gist of opening gates in fifteen minutes or less. We can stop quickly and balanced on the hindquarter from the walk and trot, on a loose rein. We are still working on stopping from canter. We sidepass, turn on the forehand, and are working on turning over the hindquarter and disengaging the front end. I think these basic movements are key to any riding horse, and rider safety.

I will let you know how the lesson goes with Karin. I am anxious about making at least a decent impression... but Karin knows we are basically starting from scratch with an old rusty rider, and a horse from a different discipline. Hope she has LOTS of patience! And I will be sure to make sure at least my stirrup leathers are the SAME length!

;)
P~

Barn and Other Updates

Well it has been a few weeks since my last post. Nothing has been going on horse wise... at least nothing I have been wanting to talk much about. So here is the update on each team member:

ME: Healed from sprained ankle. Healed from minor possible concussion. Eating too much Halloween candy.

TOKAJ: Trail ride today. She did great. We were out for over three hours and she did wonderful. The warm up in the round pen definitely helped to convince her that it was time to go back to work! She has been off for a few weeks for various reasons: Rider ailments, Rain and slick ground, and some lameness from a cracked hoof. I bought Tokaj with a cracked hoof because the crack is horizontal to the ground and not vertical and going into her coronet band where the new hoof grows. I did not expect any lameness.... however.... after the rains and mud, her hoof softened and swelled and the crack enlarged somewhat. She started to get ouchy on it. So... she now gets her feet dried out at night and gets a thick coating of Tuff Stuff on the crack so it doesn't absorb water when she is out during the day. After a couple weeks of that she is good as new and the crack is growing out.

BAILEY (AKA Gus.... short for fungus): Bailey loves the wet weather. He is growing fungus everywhere! He has spots around his pasterns, and some even growing further up his legs. Sheesh. So I am busting out the fungus topical treatments to keep them away. Otherwise "Gus" is doing well and tomorrow will be going for his first ride in a while.

SAVANNAH: Found the only nail I did not find first in her new stall (new construction... they sure do drop alot of nails and stuff!!!) and rolled on it. She ended up with cellulitis on her hock and we thought for a brief moment that she had punctured the joint... but she's fine.

Training Update: After several rainstorms, I was finally forced to address the question of where I would train during bad weather. I had been wanting to board at Pine Hill where a very good dressage trainer is located, but then we built the barn etc, and money is short! So I found an indoor arena that is five miles from home. The arena is big, new, nicely lit, with great footing! It doesn't appear to get much use and for a small monthly fee, I am being allowed to use it at will! YEAH! Apparently it does not get any daytime use, so it will be like having my own! I am taking Bailey there tomorrow and will be taking Tokaj on Thursday or Friday. When I arrived at the facility I went to see who was using it and a very nice young cowboy came up and gave me the info on the arena. I don't think anyone else rides dressage or hunt seat there... so I did nto mention that I do. :) They will find out soon enough. I still plan on getting together regularly with a dressage instructor, but I will trailer in rather than paying full board at their facility.

Hunting Update: No more hunting for us yet. Now the formal season is here and although I am officially a member of the club... I don't have the formal hunt attire yet. So when I get that, and Tokaj is going good... we are going to try it again. I just know it will be great! ;)

Barn Update: The barn is up and being used each night. The horses like it in there and I have had no pawing, chewing, or stall walking so far. They go in at night and out during the day. The electrical, lights, and water are not connected yet, but I am working around that until the rain stops long enough for the contractors to dig a trench without getting stuck!

Happy Trails!

She's A Big Girl Now!

Savannah was ridden for the first time today! She was very good and accepting of the situation. She even tried to do some grazing while I was up there! I look forward to turning Miss Savannah into a riding horse rather than her being a full time hay burner. :)